Electrical reset switch mechanism



Oct. 13, 1964 G. BURY ELECTRICAL RESET SWITCH MECHANISM A Filed Dec. 4, 1962 3,153,124 ELECTRICAL RESET SWETCH MECHANSM,

rGeorge Bury, Chicago, Ill., assigner to illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation oflklaware Filed Dec. 4, 155652, Ser. No. 242,322 6 Claims. (Cl. 'Zilli-$7) This invention relates to an electrically reset switch y construction having a manual push button and more particularly relates to a switch, electrical reset mechanism and mechanical actuator wherein the electrical reset mechanism may overcall the manual reset mechanism.

This invention has a relationshipto the control mechanism shown and described in the copending applicationL oi John O. Roeser having Serial No. 39,959, tiled lune 30, i960, and assigned to the same assignee, now issued y an identical mechanical operator is used in a portion of kthe combination, restoration of the electrical switch does not occur on the return of the mechanical switch operator unless electroresponsive means is called into play.

More particularly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a combinationfincluding a manually actuated switch operator which includesparts which are arranged to break away from each other upon encountering a reversal force on the switch button caused by an yelectroresponsive means to thereby overcall the eilects of the mechanical operator. Further, the parts are lso arranged that the mechanical operator and the yelectroresponsive operator may actuate the switch simultaneously or independently of each other.

rille mechanical swit i operator also hasthe inherent characteristic of preve ng extreme forces on the switch mechanism which might be caused by bottoming of the mechanical operator without the break apart parts ernployed, particularly il? there are Vmistolerances in relative positions of the mechanical operator and the switch button.

rl`he particular construction to be discussed utilizes a type or switch known as a manually reset switch which normally goes one way upon initial actuation and stays in that position until separately actuated trom the opposite side of the switch to its original or starting position. It 4will be realized that while a lmanually actuated switch button has been discussed, the switch may also be mechanically actuated by a cam or other device, rln 'switches of the aforenoted nature, problems may occur to the relatively delicate switch mechanism when a mechanically or manually actuated force is applied to the switch to cause it to try yto obtain one position while an opposing force is applied from the other side of the switch. kln the instant invention, the break-away characteristics of the manually or mechanically actuated actuator are so arranged relative to the force induced by the electroresponsive operator on the other side of the switch that the coupling in the manually or mechanically actuated actuator will break, thus `preventing damage to the switch parts. f y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon further reading of the specication and claims in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

' United States Patent O ya connecting bail portion 2li.

FlG. l is a side elevational view of an embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines 2.-2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of the device depictedy in FlGS, l and 2.

The apparatus itl essentially comprises a bracket means l2 having spaced parallel arm portions i4 and lo having troresponsive operator means 2d are iixedly mounted beween the spaced arm portions llland lo and amechanically actuatable operator means is mounted to the bail portion El) in alignment withthe switch means 22 and the electroresponsive operator 24.

The switch means 22 may be a bank. of switches or the two outboard switch casings shown in FlG. l may be dummies depending upon the electrical circuitry desired.

ln the event that a plurality of switches rather than a single svitch are desired, of course, a means of tying in 'theactuation of the individual switch buttons for simul-l taneous actuation thereof is necessary'and is not shown.

The switch means 22 is ot' the so-called reset type wherein when the switch isl actuated from a first position to a second position it stays actuated until moved by an outside force to the starting position. Switch means 22 has a casing or" suitable insulating material .which mounts therein iixed contact means having terminals .li/lovable contact means 32 are operable to actuate between the fixed contact means by a contact bar 34 which mechanically links opposed push buttons 36 and 3@ which are coaxial with each other and which extend exteriorly of the casing 23. lt will be appreciated that when push button is depressed, push buttony Si; becomes extended and vice verst. rlfhe particular switch per se forms no part of the instant invention other than as being representative of La class of switches towhich the instant invention applies and of the type wherein thepushbuttons are onopposite sides thereof and are coaxial and mechanically linked for actuation as above described. v

A cross plate itl is iixedly mounted below die switch Ztl between the arms is and le' by suitable complementary tabs and upsets di, said plate being centrally amerturedv at d2 for purposes hereinafter appearing, said plate in a sense being the lower end of the switch compartment. ri`he electroresponsive operator means 2d is fixed to plate and essentially comprises an electrically energizable annular winding is lattached to a suitable source of electric power (not shown), said winding being mounted on a plastic spool or bobbin de having a central bore 47 coaxial with the aperture ki2 in plate 4t). The bobbin 156 is mounted to and has an extension that extends through a centrally located aperture in a lower cross plate d3 which is mounted by tabs 49 to the spaced arms 14 and lo. An axially movable armature 5t), preferably made of steel, is mounted in thebore d'7 for movement tberein. The upper endy of the armature 5@ has an extension plunger fill, preferably of nonmagnetic material, which extends through the aperture 4?; in plated@ for engagement with the push button 38 upon energization of the winding 44. The armature moves upwardly against the bias of the spring uponenergization, and returns to the position shown in FIG. 2 under the bias of the spring 54 upon deenergization of they winding 44. A bottommost plate 5o mounts an adjusting screw 58 which limits the downward travel of the armature Sil, `said plate 56 being mounted by tabs and upset 57 as shown in FIG. 3.

Switch means Z2 and elec-v The mechanical actuator means 26 may be either manually actuated or actuated by a suitable cam mechanism or the like depending upon the environment within which the apparatus lll is placed. The mechanical actuator 26 is mounted in a bore dit which is centrally located in bail portion Ztl of the channel bracket member' l2 in coaxial alignment with push button 36 and aperture 412 through which plunger SZ extends. A collar portion 62, having an elongated threaded neck portion 6d, is iixedly mounted to the bail portion aperture ed and mounts the movable parts of the mechanism. Suitable nuts and lo-clt washers and the like are mounted on the threaded neck portion 6d to mount the entire apparatus lll to a panel board or the like. The mechanical actuator further comprises an elongated, hollow push button member ed having a bore d and an enlarged portion at the lower end thereof to deine a counterbore 7G. A stop ring '72 is placed adjacent the upper end of portion 66 to engage the top of counter portion de to keep the parts in assembled relation and prevent extreme overtravel. A spring 7d is disposed in the bore 68 and bottoms on the bottom ci the bore at 76 to engage the upper end of an armature 78 having an extension Ell which extends through a suitable bore in a permanent magnet S2. it will be noted that the magnet S2 is annular in nature and is disposed in the counterbore 7u of member 66, the magnet 82 being biased to this position by a spring 34- which engages the lower side of the magnet and a plate 36 having a central aperture therein. The aperture titi in a cross plate S is coaxial with button 3d which extends therethrough, said plate Sti being mounted to arms 14 and lo by a suitable tab and upset means 87 shown in FIG. 3.

The attractive force between the armature '7S and the magnet 82 is such that depression of the push button 6e will normally cause engagement of extension Sil on push button 36 to cause the latter to move to an overcenter position whereupon it will remain in its recessed posi tion. ln other words, the attractive force between the armature f8 and the magnet 8?; is suiiicient to cause actu,- ation of the switch without causing an uncoupling of the magnet 32 and armature 73. However, in the event that the switch button 66 is actuated at the same time that the electro-responsive windings 44 are energized, causing the movement of plunger 52 into engagement with member $3, the strength of the electroresponsive operator means 4 is suiiicient to cause an uncoupling movement between the armature 7S and the magnet 82. Thus, the armature '73 will move in bore 68 compressing spring 74. Upon release of the push button 66, spring will cause the magnet S2 and button 66 to return to the position shown in FIG. 2, spring 7d causing the armature to re-engage and couple with the magnet 82.

It will be apparent that with this type of construction and the relative relationship of the forces involved that the switch mechanism will not be damaged by a simultaneous actuation of button 66 and energization of the winding lid. Also alternate actuations of actuators Zd and Zd are possible.

Although a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is with full awareness that many modications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, it not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. Switch operating apparatus for a reset switch having actuator buttons on opposite sides thereof, each of which alternately has an extended and a recessed position comprising mechanical actuating means on a irst side of said switch for operating one of said switch buttons, and electroresponsive actuating means disposed on the opposite side of said switch for operative engagement with the other of said switch buttons, said mechanical actuating means comprising a first plunger for operating said one switch button, another plunger coaxially mounted relative to said rst plunger for relative movement thereto, and coupling means for holding said other plunger in engagement with said lirst plunger to prevent said relative movement of said other plunger until a predetermined force is applied to said other plunger, said predetermined force being greater than the force normally necessary to move said one switch button from its extended to its recessed position, said electroresponsive operator means comprising third plunger means operable to engage the other of said switch buttons to move said other switch button from its extended to its recessed position and concurrently move said one switch button from its recessed to its extended position, said electroresponsive means when energized providing a force on said other switch button which is transmitted to said one push button and is of suliicient magnitude to cause the coupling means of said first plunger and said another plunger to break apart in the event that said mechanical actuator and said electroresponsive actuator are actuated simultaneously.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim l wherein the coupling means tor holding said other plunger in engagement with said first plunger comprises permanent magnet means and armature means mounted between said first and other plungers for coaction therewith.

3. in combination a switch comprising a switch casing having Contact means interiorly thereof and iirst and second mechanically linked push button means extending from opposite sides of said casing for alternate reset action of said contact means, mechanical operator means for engagement with said lirst push button means, electroresponsive actuator means for engaging said second push button means, and channel shaped bracket means for mounting said mechanical operator means, switch means, and electroresponsive actuator means in operative relation, said mechanical operator means having rst and second parts coupled together by coupling means operable to retain said first and second parts together during normal actuation of said first push button means, said coupling means moving to an uncoupled position upon simultaneous actuation of said electroresponsive actuator means and mechanical operator means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said bracket means comprises a U-shaped member having lirst and second spaced arms and a bail portion, said switch means and said electroresponsive means being disposed between said spaced arms, said mechanical means being disposed on said bail portion in alignment with said switch means and said electroresponsive means being disposed 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said electroresponsive actuator means comprises an annular electrically energizable coil, an armature movably disposed within the center of said coil, and extension means fixed to said armature for movement therewith, said extension means being aligned with said second switch button means for actuation thereof upon energization or" said coil means.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein said mechanical operator means comprises an actuator plunger aligned with said tirst switch button means for one way operation thereof, coil spring biasing means, a hollow movable operator means having a closed end and a central bore aligned with said switch button and biased by said spring biasing means with a predetermined force to a'iirst position and movable to a second position, second biasing means located in said bore of said movable operator means and in engagement with said closed end and biasing said actuator plunger into coupled engagement with said hollow movable operator means with a second predetermined force, and magnetic coupling means having a coupled and uncoupled relation comprising an armature and a permanent magnet coaxial with said first switch button means and plunger means and respectively mounted on said actuator plunger and movable operator means, whereby actuation of said movable operator means from its rst to its second position when said magnetic coupling means is in coupled relation :Alford simultaneous movement of said actuator plunger and switch button to actuate said switch from its first to its second position against said coil spring biasing means, said electroresponsive operator being operable to provide an uncoupling force on said coupling means causing separation of said magnet and armature and thereby overoalls said mechanieal operator means, whereby said switch will not be damaged upon simultaneous actuation by said mechanical operator means and electroresponsive actuating means.

s 1,839,629 1/32 Williams 20G- 87 5 2,373,587 4-/45 Martin-Hurst 200--87 2,591,336 4/52 Boidelon 20D- 87 3,918,652 1/62 Dubonnet 20G-87 3,109,906 ll/ 63 Abendroth 20G-87 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 10 Rosana si. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

3. IN COMBINATION A SWITCH COMPRISING A SWITCH CASING HAVING CONTACT MEANS INTERIORLY THEREOF AND FIRST AND SECOND MECHANICALLY LINKED PUSH BUTTON MEANS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CASING FOR ALTERNATE RESET ACTION OF SAID CONTACT MEANS, MECHANICAL OPERATOR MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST PUSH BUTTON MEANS, ELECTRORESPONSIVE ACTUATOR MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID SECOND PUSH BUTTON MEANS, AND CHANNEL SHAPED BRACKET MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID MECHANICAL OPERATOR MEANS, SWITCH MEANS, AND ELECTRORESPONSIVE ACTUATOR MEANS IN OPERATIVE RELATION, SAID MECHANICAL OPERATOR MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND PARTS COUPLED TOGETHER BY COUPLING MEANS OPERABLE TO RETAIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PARTS TOGETHER DURING NORMAL ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST PUSH BUTTON MEANS, SAID COUPLING MEANS MOVING TO AN UNCOUPLED POSITION UPON SIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF SAID ELECTRORESPONSIVE ACTUATOR MEANS AND MECHANICAL OPERATOR MEANS. 